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In order to get a quiet system, I would like to limit the number of fans (especially smaller ones which are louder). So I wonder if I can use the stock Phenom II 940 heatsink I have (without fan) to cool the CPU. The case has two 12 cm fans, which should create a good airflow. Also the box won't have an hard disk (PXE boot).
Is this possible? May it damage the CPU?

My guess is that it should work, but there's no way to be sure except if you try out.
Your CPU will definitely not get damaged (at least not immediately), as it's going to clock itself down automatically when the temperature gets critical.
Just monitor the temperature with lm-sensors, if it stays below 60°C under load you should be safe (more is probably ok as well, but I start to feel uncomfortable with more than that).

In order to get a quiet system, I would like to limit the number of fans (especially smaller ones which are louder). So I wonder if I can use the stock Phenom II 940 heatsink I have (without fan) to cool the CPU. The case has two 12 cm fans, which should create a good airflow. Also the box won't have an hard disk (PXE boot).
Is this possible? May it damage the CPU?

Thanks in advance

Hello

I have an 45W TDP 4850e (the predecessor I'd say) and I have all besides the PSU and 2 ultrasilent casefans passively cooled. The CPU, the Radeon HD 3870 passively, the mainbaord chips. It is possible.

I use the BTF-95 cooler (Butterfly, copper, looks nice and is still affordable). The cooler was also specified for much warmer (more TDP) CPUs at that time. It had a broad socket compatibility, came with mounting equipment for AMDs as well as intels. Installation was okay, though it needs some space.
B.t.w. it is cold as ice on top. Even during compiling it stays cool (but the 4850e isn't a real hothead anyway). When I touch it now (during idling most of the time) the top feels like room temperature.
So there are reserves left.